MU spokesperson Mary Jo Banken said, "The Chancellor received the petition from a group of concerned students, faculty and community members. He had a productive meeting today with them and is committed to continuing discussions with them about these concerns."

The president of the local group, Laura McQuade, said: “We urge Chancellor Loftin to listen to the thousands of students, faculty, and community members demanding that he stand up for the rights of students, and the lives of all Missourians, by fully reinstating both the physician privileges and all training contracts between MU and Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri.”

MU decided to end the 26-year relationship with Planned Parenthoods on September 16.

The decision followed state lawmakers’ investigation of abortions performed at Planned Parenthood’s clinics.

MU revoked the hospital’s privileges for Dr. Colleen McNicholas, who was providing local abortions.

“The clock is ticking for Chancellor Loftin to restore physician privileges by December 1, a critical step ensuring that the full range of high quality reproductive health care services, including abortion, remain legal, available and accessible in Mid-Missouri," McQuade said. "The citizens of Missouri will not tolerate going back to being a single provider state.”